SAONE-ET-LOIIIE, a department of France, bounded N. by Cote d'Or, E. by Jura, S. by those of Ain, Rhone, and Loire, and W. by those of Allier and Nievre. Its greatest length from north to south is 68 miles, front east to west 85 miles. The area is 3306-7 square miles. The population in 1841 was 551,548 ; iu 1851 it had fallen to 634,720, which gives 161'708 inhabitants to a square mile, being 12'876 below the average per square mile for the whole of France.
Tho department is traversed from south to north through its centre by the Charoluis and Meconnais heights, which form the prolongation northward of the Cevennes, and unite them with the Cote-d'Or, the heights of Langrea, the Faucillea, and the Vosges. [Cevesiees.] These heights in the southern part consist of short parallel ranges of hills, which are separated by longitudinal valleys drained by the feeders of the Sa6ne or the Loire. In the northern part of the department they do not occupy so much apace as in the southern, and consist of two ranges of low hills separated by the valley of the Dheune, through which the Canal-du-Centre passes. On the eastern and western sides of these heights the surface of the department is tolerably level.
The nucleus of the mountain chain is granite, which prevails also in the country westward. The eastern slopes and the plain at their base nearly to the Saone, are occupied by the oolitic formations. A considerable extent of country also around Charolles, on the west side of the heights, and extending northward almost to the Arroux, is occupied by the same formations. The immediate banks of tho Loire (above the junction of the Arroux) and of the SaOne, and that portion of the department which lies east of the Saone, are occupied by the tertiary formations.
In minerals this is one of the richest departments in France. Tho hungry ungrateful soil of the basin of the Arroux covers one of the richest coal-fields in France. Iron-ore is found also in this district, and numerous important iron-works are established near the coal mines. At Creuzot, where both coal- and iron-minea are worked, there
are some of the most important iron-works in France, and great foundries which turn out cannon, anchors, steam-machinery, mill castings, &c. The produce of these coal-fields is distributed by means of a railroad 17 miles long, which conveys the coal to the Canal-du Centre. The richest manganese-mine in France is at Itomanhche, near the Same, in the south of the department Marble, alabaster, I lithographic atones, and abundance of freestone are quarried.
The department is partly in the basin of the Loire, partly in that of the Saone. The line of separation between the two basins is formed by the Charolaia heights, the country on the east of them being drained by the Saone, and the country on tho west by the Loire. The Saone itself enters the department on the north-east side from Mee:1'0r, between Seurre and Verdun : it pursues a winding course south-south-west past Verdun and Cbftlon, from which town its courses is more directly south, to the junction of the Reyssouce, whence it separates the department from that of Ain. lie length within or upon the border is about 70 miles, navigable throughout Its prin cipal aflluenta are the DODDS and the Seille, on the left bank ; and the Dhenne, the Gaye, and the Grants on the right bank. The Lambe receives the Ottiotte on its left bank, and the Seille receives the Selman and the Sane on its left bank. The Seille is navigable from Louhans.
The Loire enters the department on the south-west side, crosses the south-west corner, and for the remainder of its course, until it quits the department altogether, forms the western boundary ; about 53 miles of its course, all navigable, belong to this department It receives the Arconce, or Reconce; the Arroux, which has 12 miles of navigation; the Somme and the Tenney, all on its right or east bank. There are a number of small lakes, some of them on the watershed of the two river-basins.